"White Christmas" came early....
"White Christmas" - Southampton 25th November 2011
I had never thought I would return to Southampton to see a show.
The last and only time I was in Southampton was to see "High School Musical - the musical" a few years ago.
Yeah, I know but to my defence I have to say I only went to see it as an acquaintance of mine and two other people I knew as well and really liked were in it as well. ;)
When I learnt that the wonderful Clare Rickard I have known since she was in "Mary Poppins" and whom I have become well acquainted with since was joining the cast of "White Christmas" I knew I wanted to see it - question just was where as it "only" is on in Southampton, Dublin and Liverpool this season.
So even though Southampton is not the nicest of these three places but since I could combine it with a few days in London being only 1 1/4 hours away by train, the choice was made and on a dark cloudy November day I was off to see this show.
White Christmas is of course a musical based on the 1954 movie starring Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye that features the songs of Irving Berlin, including the titular "White Christmas".
It tells of Bob Wallace and Phil Davis, who after leaving the Army after W.W.II, team up to become a top song-and-dance act. Davis plays matchmaker and introduces Wallace to a pair of beautiful sisters (Betty and Judy Haynes) who also have a song-and-dance act. When Betty and Judy travel to a Vermont lodge to perform a Christmas show, Wallace and Davis follow, only to find their former commander, General Waverly, is the lodge owner. A series of romantic mix-ups ensue as the performers try to help the General.
Christmas definitely started early this year: first the preview of this show at my local theatre here in Hamburg and a week later this classic and I even didn’t mind (and I am anything but a fan of Christmas).
The show is definitely one very sweet, sugary and old-fashioned but it is also so spiritual and festive with most wonderful classic songs as (of course) the famous “White Christmas”, "Happy Holiday" or "Sisters".
Aled Jones, a Welsh singer and television/radio personality I hadn’t really been familiar with before, but clearly seems to be a rather big name in the UK, played Bob Wallace and while he certainly sang his numbers beautifully and acted the quiet side of Bob lovely I was not convinced by him as a man in love with Betty. There was just some chemistry missing between him and Amy Ellen Richardson as Betty for me (though others did see it). It also didn’t help for me that he looked more like he could have been her dad age wise even though he is actually just 40 in real life (but to me looking definitely older on that stage). Yes, I am aware there can be such age gaps, it just didn’t do it for me. And next to Adam Cooper and the others his dancing could not (not surprisingly) match up to the incredible cast.
Adam Cooper – gosh, this man can DANCE. He just lives and breathes DANCE. He is DANCE. Okay, I will never be a fan of his singing but his DANCING just captivates me as much as his leading lady with his utter sheer, charisma and charm And have I mentioned that he can DANCE??
Amy Ellen Richardson as Betty is just an utterly stunning genuine young lady. She has such a rich voice that is to murder for and her dancing is just spot on and I cannot say how much her “Love, You Didn't Do Right By Me” rendition touched me.
I must say I was not too keen on Louise Bowden as Judy Haynes. She certainly did well but I missed some spark and would have wanted to see more “hyper-ness” and be more bubbly than I thought she was. She was also for me a bit, despite her stunning costumes, unglamorous in her performance. She nevertheless sang and danced beautifully next to Adam Cooper.
Ken Farrington as the general (I had just known as some guy from a cheesy TV soap till then) convinces well with the right balance of strictness due to his background and heart for e.g. his granddaughter.
Louise Plowright as Martha Watson, the inn’s housekeeper is definitely the secret star of the show. Her Martha is witty, brash, loud but also has the heart in the right place and being so warm and tender. Louise has a perfect comic timing and a fantastic vibrant full voice and is just right for that part for me.
Randy Skinner’s choreography is inspired, lively and upbeat. The big ensemble numbers display some massive talent, the unison tap dancing looking just marvelous and enrapture me as an absolute tap dance fanatic with delight.
The ensemble anyway is also full of incredible talents that it is just so much fun to watch and seeing my beloved Clare onstage is anyway bringing the biggest smile into my face. I just wished I had seen the show on the Tuesday before (as I found out after the show) as she being understudy for Judy was on that night but it was not to be. :(
The costume and the detailed set also look lavish bright and just fantastic and suit the show concept perfectly. Especially the actual rather simple barn looks immense. And the apparent 17-piece orchestra (didn’t count ;-) ) was conducted well sounding fresh and passionate without getting OTT.
I definitely felt festive at the end of the show when the snow falls at last and the cast and the orchestra perform the final.
